First Statewide Biotech Meeting Focuses on Patient Access, Innovation

Mar 8, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif – March 8, 2012 – More than 1,100 leaders from across California’s life sciences industry will converge on San Francisco, March 8-9, for the two-day conference CALBIO2012: Driven by Patients. The conference focus is to increase patient access to new treatments through partnering and collaborative research.

For the first time, BayBio and BIOCOM are organizing a statewide meeting for California’s life sciences companies. CALBIO2012: Driven by Patients will be the first West Coast conference to bring together industry and foundations for successful, mutually beneficial discussions.

“As a life sciences community, we need to collaborate to solve the industry’s great challenges,” said Gail Maderis, president and CEO of BayBio. “We are proud to partner with BIOCOM to produce CALBIO2012. By bringing our leaders together, we can work to accelerate the development of breakthrough treatments.”

Patient access, risk and reform at the FDA, new business models and financing are the pressing issues that face the life sciences industry today. These challenges will be addressed by CALBIO2012’s keynote speakers:

No other state has produced more breakthrough treatments than California. Its companies account for 27 percent of the nation’s biomedical pipeline. In 2011, VCs invested more than $2.7 billion in California life sciences companies, more than in any other state.

“CALBIO2012 exemplifies the strength of California as a model for life science innovation, and our dedication to maintaining our leadership in the global economy,” said Joe Panetta, president and CEO of BIOCOM. “Through such collaborative efforts between organizations, we will continue to pursue programs that provide capital access and a more transparent regulatory environment for our members.”

About BayBio

BayBio is Northern California’s life science association, supporting the regional bioscience community through advocacy, enterprise support, and the enhancement of research collaboration. Its members include organizations engaged in, or supportive of, research, development and commercialization of life science technologies. Online at www.baybio.org. Follow BayBio on Twitter at @baybio.

About BIOCOM

BIOCOM is the largest regional life science association in the world, representing more than 560 member companies in Southern California. The association focuses on initiatives that positively influence the region’s life science community in the development and delivery of innovative products that improve health and quality of life. This includes initiatives in capital formation, public policy, workforce development, group purchasing and member services such as networking events. For more information on BIOCOM or the Southern California biotechnology and medical device community, please visit the organization’s Web site at www.biocom.org.